Maguire wants a Kiwi to replace him as coach, eventually

Kiwis coach Michael Maguire wants to see current members of his squad coaching the national team in the near future.

And he's already started working with a number of senior players on plans for them to make the transition into the area.

Uncertainty remains over the representative futures of veteran players such as Benji Marshall and Adam Blair, who were key contributors for the Kiwis in their 2-0 series victory over Great Britain.

Maguire said if he had it his way they would step straight into coaching jobs when they were ready.

"Blairy, Jared [Waerea-Hargreaves] and Benji Marshall, those guys at some stage I would like to see follow someone like Stephen Kearney [into coaching]," Maguire said.

"I want one of those boys to take my role at some stage.

"I talk about it [with them] all the time because I am keen to see those boys transition at some stage.

"Hopefully they have got plenty more footy in them, but we need those boys to aspire to be in my shoes.

"I think all of them have shown an interest really. They have got a passion around wanting to develop themselves."

Maguire said while the number of New Zealand players in the Telstra Premiership continues to grow, there's a comparatively low number of Kiwis employed across the coaching staff at the 16 clubs.

Former Kiwi internationals Stacey Jones (Warriors) and David Kidwell (Parramatta) are among the New Zealanders holding assistant posts in the NRL, but Kearney is the only New Zealand head coach.

"We have got a lot of Kiwi kids running around in the competition, so I am really keen to try and encourage pathways for coaches here," Maguire said.

"It would be nice to see a lot more Kiwi coaches in the [elite] ranks.

"David Kidwell is there and doing a great job with what he's doing. I am really proud that Stacey is here and Nathan Cayless [as Kiwis assistants]."

While it's likely some of New Zealand's veteran group celebrated their last Test on Saturday night when the Kiwis crushed the Lions 23-8 in Christchurch, at the other end of the scale international rookie Corey Harawira-Naera said the experience has made him desperate to ensure he's back again next year.

The Bulldogs forward appeared in all three end-of-year games for New Zealand and scored what turned out to be the winning try in his side's 12-8 victory in the first Test against the Lions.

"I always knew if I got the opportunity it was going to make me grow," Harawira-Naera said.

"I'm just buzzing to be here and be part of this campaign. It's going to be hard to keep the smile off my face for the next few weeks.

"Having a taste now just makes me want more next year.

"I'm glad I'm here but I don't want it to be a one-off, so I am going to take what I have learned here back to the Bulldogs and work my arse off to get back here next year."